Need advice for a beginner on what detector to start with

[CoinCollector1982]

Hi! My name is Candi and I have been a coin collector since I was a little girl (Grand father influenced me). I love anything and everything with a history. My favorite era is the late 1800's. I now want to start using metal detectors in my area in hopes to find some treasures I have no idea what type of metal detector would be best for me.... at a reasonable ::cough:: Cheap ::cough:: price. I am interested in finding coins and gold mainly. Also, I don't know much about these and am hoping to find one that is good on land and water as I live along the west coast of Florida.

Thanks!

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Welcome From White Plains, New York! Here are my suggestions:

Tesoro Compadre 8"

Fisher F2

Garrett Ace 250

Whites Coinmaster

 

[NCHornet]

You will get better response if you give a dollar amount you want to spend. Myself, I prefer a gently used higher end model than a new entry level machine, but that is me. The Garrett 150 and 250 have really good reviews and you can get into one of them without a huge investment. Just remember this, cheap tools aren't good and good tools aren't cheap.

 

[lonewolfe]

Welcome From White Plains, New York! Here are my suggestions:

Tesoro Compadre 8"

Fisher F2

Garrett Ace 250

Whites Coinmaster

I agree with Terry here as for entry level machines on the budget minded side ($200 range or so) but - you'll find lots of coins/items with any of them

on the other hand though

when you add the "water hunting" factor in and being a salt water area (FL coast) - that changes the game BIG time -

none of the machines listed would be any good to you in salt water as they are not water proof and none of them would do any good on the wet sand either because the salt/mineral would drive them nuts/overload them to the point of being useless

in dry sand you'd be okay but not the salt water or wet sand

you'd need a much higher dollar machine for that purpose (something with at least dual frequency and/or a salt mode) or a PI machine.

 

[CoinCollector1982]

You will get better response if you give a dollar amount you want to spend. Myself, I prefer a gently used higher end model than a new entry level machine, but that is me. The Garrett 150 and 250 have really good reviews and you can get into one of them without a huge investment. Just remember this, cheap tools aren't good and good tools aren't cheap.

Sorry about that, the salt water searching is a big must. I was hoping to not spend any more than $500. If you all could suggest some brands, I could search online for used one

Thanks for all of the replies!!

 

[CoinCollector1982]

I have found a waterproof one online called Bounty Hunter Gold series. Has anyone ever heard of this? I am thinking it may be a lower end detector. I am really just looking for something that will work on land and in a foot or so of salt water.

 

[rainyday101]

Trying to get the best of both worlds for that price is going to be about impossible. (used or not)

 

[dieselram94]

I have found a waterproof one online called Bounty Hunter Gold series. Has anyone ever heard of this? I am thinking it may be a lower end detector. I am really just looking for something that will work on land and in a foot or so of salt water.

Some people like Bounty Hunter but as NCHornet said " Just remember this, cheap tools aren't good and good tools aren't cheap." Bounty Hunters are on the "cheap" side. If I were you I would save up a little longer and search for a quality machine gently used. I personally hate throwing money away...

 

[dieselram94]

And by the way, welcome Coincollector1982